The Songwriters Hall Of Fame announced today that John Fogerty will receive the prestigious Johnny Mercer Award in 2026. The honor will be presented during the induction and awards gala on Thursday, June 11, at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.
The Johnny Mercer Award stands as the highest recognition the organization can give, reserved for previously inducted songwriters whose catalogs have left a lasting mark on music history. Fogerty, inducted into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame in 2005, now joins the select list of artists recognized at this level.
Songwriters Hall Of Fame chairman Nile Rodgers shared a personal statement on Fogerty’s impact: “The first time I heard Creedence Clearwater Revival, I was a mere highschooler. It was also the first time I heard John Fogerty‘s voice, one of the most distinctive ever. To this day I’ve never heard anyone else sound like him. His unique songwriting ability is another quality. He’s one of those rare talents who is unmistakably himself. His style of composition is rock and roll mastery. It’s what I’ve always personally believed in, something I call ‘the art of complex simplicity.’ He’s done what I believe all great songwriters do. He makes us feel. He deserves this award as much as anyone who’s ever received it, or will receive it, in the future. I send my congratulations to John Fogerty.”
Fogerty’s reputation was built through his work as the songwriter, singer, lead guitarist, arranger, and producer for Creedence Clearwater Revival, crafting some of the most recognizable anthems in American rock.
His catalog includes songs like “Proud Mary”, “Fortunate Son”, “Born On The Bayou”, “Bad Moon Rising”, and “Have You Ever Seen The Rain”. Several of these tracks — including “Fortunate Son”, “Bad Moon Rising”, and “Have You Ever Seen The Rain” — have each passed one billion streams, earning Fogerty a place in Spotify’s Billions Club and keeping his music present on charts even decades later.
Beyond Creedence Clearwater Revival, Fogerty built an extensive solo career, releasing 11 studio albums. These include Centerfield, Blue Moon Swamp, The Blue Ridge Rangers, Revival, and The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again.
In 2021, he returned with his first original song in eight years, “Weeping In The Promised Land”, described as a gospel-leaning reflection on the social and political climate.
A major turning point came in 2023, when Fogerty regained the publishing rights to his songs after a fight that stretched over half a century. That victory was celebrated in 2025 with the release of Legacy: The Creedence Clearwater Revival Years, a 20-track collection featuring newly recorded versions of his most iconic material. Produced alongside his son Shane, with executive production by his wife Julie, the album debuted in the top 10 across multiple charts and drew strong praise from major outlets.
Fogerty’s career has already earned him induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, the American Music Honors, and multiple awards from BMI, along with NAMM’s “Music For Life” honor. He also received a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame back in 1998.
With the Johnny Mercer Award now ahead, Fogerty’s influence as a songwriter continues to stand as one of rock’s enduring foundations — the kind of legacy that still connects with fans across generations, including those in the hard rock and metal world who grew up on timeless riffs and unforgettable hooks.
